Rudy Giuliani on Environment

Former Mayor of New York City; Republican Candidate for 2000 Senate (NY)

Reclaimed Times Square from decades of filth

As Giuliani's 2 tempestuous terms drew to a close, it felt like an election for the Democrats to lose. The campaign was to a large degree a referendum on Rudy.

But the mayor remained a factor. He had tamed crime and welfare payments. Even Times Square shed its filth after decades of futile reclamation projects.
Its comeback spanning 3 mayoral administrations and 2 decades was hardly Giuliani's doing, but he was in charge when it arrived and got considerable credit.
The "ungovernable" city was turning downright genteel--a stunning transformation from the decaying late 1970s and 1980s.

Launched widespread insecticide spraying against West Nile

The West Nile virus debuted in the Western Hemisphere in Queens, New York's College Point community in August 1999. Among 62 New York State residents who contracted West Nile encephalitis (brain swelling) that year, seven died.
Rather than study the problem to death, that summer and in 2000, Giuliani launched widespread insecticide spraying against West Nile-carrying mosquitoes.

Environmentalists went haywire. The local No Spray Coalition sued to block fumigation. New York's
Green party callously declared: "These diseases only kill the old and people whose health is already poor."

Giuliani firmly told Newsday that spraying was "perfectly safe." He added: "There are some people who are engaged in the
business of wanting to frighten people out of their minds." In 2000, he told CNN: "The reality is that danger to human life is more important than birds, fish, and insects."

Prepare better for next Hurricane Katrina

Rudy Giuliani released the following statement today commemorating the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina:

“On this anniversary, Americans come together to remember all those who lost their lives, suffered or were affected by the
devastation of Hurricane Katrina. We must now use the lessons learned to ensure we are better prepared in the future. By building on the courage and skills of all our citizens, America will become a stronger, more resilient nation.”